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    San Xavier Del Bac Mission

    4.7 (238 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

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    One of the standing towers
    julie k.

    A truly spiritual and beautiful mission just 5 minutes south of Tucson. Quite a crowd today, but always a beautiful experience. Open for visits if mass isn't being performed. Lovely buildings, grounds and gift shop that helps support restoration efforts. A Do Not Miss stop for visitors and locals alike.

    Cindy V.

    While visiting a dear friend in Tucson, I wanted to see the San Xavier Del Bac Mission, and what a beauty it was to behold! I have been to many beautiful churches throughout the US, and yes, there are some gorgeous ones out there. But this one felt sacred. Timeless. Breathtaking. It was built in the 1700s, and you felt it's haunting and peaceful past with each step you took in this beautiful mission. People were in pews praying, some were weeping, and all of us, no matter why you were there felt the presence of something more. This visit will stay with me forever. I walked into the mission as one person, and walked out of it understanding what love and peace can really feel like. Yes, it was that kind of experience for me.

    Myr P.

    Visited the mission the day after Christmas. The last time we saw it was 6 yrs ago and it's as beautiful as it was before in spite of the scaffolding and restoration work. Short drive from downtown Tucson. A must see!

    Asa P.

    The Most Beautiful Spanish Colonial Architecture in Tucson, Arizona. Serving as a place of fellowship and community. It was built in 1797 on tribal land in the Tohono O'odham Nation, designated as a National Historic Landmark. What breathtaking views and extraordinary craftsmanship skills. This was my first experience and I felt like I still needed more time. So much to cover. I also took the short hike up Grotto Hill and roamed the grounds to check out the food vendors.

    Outside
    Heidi A.

    Very beautiful and well-kept mission. I'm always amazed by the different styles of catholic missions, and how beautiful they are. You could tell this mission has a lot of Spanish/Native American/Mexican influence and gorgeous.

    Lucy I.

    Such a beautiful place with so much history and detail in every space. So stunning and worth visiting.

    Indigenous Angel
    Crystal F.

    What an incredibly gorgeous mission! I can definitely recommend stopping by for a visit even if you are not religious. It is a beautiful place in Arizona's history and weaves together Indigenous influence and 17th century Catholicism. The church is stunning and has beautiful ornate carvings, paintings and cathedral ceilings. Please consider donating as it is free to visit. This Mission is sprawling and includes separate buildings you can enter other than the main body of the church. There is a gift shop, bathrooms, and a museum. Parking is plentiful on the gravel driveway and you will find food vendors right outside cooking up fried bread and other local delicacies. My sister and I took our families here and we enjoyed walking the grounds and hiking up the nearby hill which has a cross atop it. We wondered if that hill was manmade or natural. As we rounded the top, we found Jesus chillin'. If you are in Tucson for a short visit, this place is within 30 minutes to the closest airport (TUS).

    Ashley K.

    The mission is beautiful just to begin with. When you enter it's a really amazing place to walk around and enjoy all the beautiful artwork from the walls to the ceiling. Myself and kids find peace when visiting and lighting candles for prayer. They do also have tours that run during the day and a lovely gift shop. It's always a place I recommend visiting when coming from out of town. Parking is also very spacious which is a plus.

    Ed H.

    We went on a Sunday, we've heard it's the best day to walk around with all the vendors there. We had a super nice visit and saw a lot of really nice crafts for sale. We did walk through the chapel quickly in-between services. What a beautiful place. Excited to go back for a full tour.

    Matthew O.

    A very beautiful place to visit in Tucson! If you are really into history and you want to experience what it was like when this area was still a Spanish colony, definitely put this on a list of must visits. They have done such a fantastic job preserving the architecture and history of the place. Every statue and fresco has been beautifully restored. It is also still an active Roman Catholic Church, so you definitely feel the intimacy and religious weight of the building and the area. Coming here, you really see how history and religion has intertwined to impact the region. Be sure to visit :)

    Side of the church
    Myphuong L.

    Nice spot to stop by when you're in Tucson. Plenty of parking. The church grounds is not that big. Unique architecture inside. They have a small gift store. You'll see road runner symbols every where. It's their desert bird but we didn't see any in person. Be sure to stop by the plaza at the opposite end of the church. Restrooms can be found at the church or plaza. Everything is free. Be sure to donate. There's also a docent tour. Check the church hours before you come in case it's during mass.

    Front view of the main chapel
    Jihye B.

    This is a must-visit place in Tucson area (on a nice and sunny day). From the distance, you can see the Mission building, which stands brilliantly white among the sea of beige desert landscape. It's a visually striking building up close, but even better in pictures against a clear blue sky and bright Tucson sun. We went pretty early on in the day but missed the docent tour by a hair and could not wait for the next batch. However, everyone there was very friendly and between all the signs and their additional explanation, you could get a good tour of the whole Mission building. There's a good mixture of the religious/spiritual significance of the building, the complex history of the native people and the European Catholic priests, the archeological richness of the site, and the scientific charms of the original and restorative processes of the building sprinkled throughout the area. There's even a little hill to climb if you wanted a bit more physical element! All this experience is free. There are some donation bins located throughout the site, and the Mission sells candles and has a gift shop that sells little souvenirs, but never do they push you to donate or buy. You could spend an hour just exploring this little Mission building. I'm so glad we detoured here on a lovely sunny day.

    Janelle F.

    Pictures just don't do it justice. To know this place has been around for hundreds of years of years and is still participating in Mass is awesome. Only bummer is they are doing some restoration work on the outside so getting a full picture is hard. Inside however is so beautiful. The murals and carved work is phenomenal. Please be respectful if people are in prayer etc. pictures are not allowed during mass and such. Walking on the grounds is a site and if you walk up the hill the views are great. There are bathrooms on site as well as a small gift shop. It's a definite must stop if visiting or driving through Tucson. If these walls could talk. If you love history you'll love it here.

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    6 months ago

    Beautiful, great place to visit and go to mass. The grounds and architecture is amazing.

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    Ask the Community - San Xavier Del Bac Mission

    What is the best time to go?

    If you are more prone to have the AZ heat affect you.....early is best. Also it is a FUNCTIONING Church, so they have a Nass schedule on the website...(in case you were interested in that).

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    Review Highlights - San Xavier Del Bac Mission

    The inside is well maintained and candles can be purchased at the gift shop and then lit inside the church.

    Mentioned in 48 reviews

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    Rattlesnake Bridge

    Rattlesnake Bridge

    3.7
    (21 reviews)
    8.3 mi

    If you've read my Spruce Street Suspension Bridge review, you'd already know my partner is an urban…read moreplanner/transit advocate. Whenever we go somewhere new, we always check out that city's metro system or unique infrastructures. He wasn't with me on this trip so I decided to surprise him with a tale of my adventures to the Rattlesnake Bridge (this bridge has a rattlesnake tail...yes I sent him the picture to accompany the tale). I found this spot on Yelp and it was an adventure finding it in person. There is no parking next to it, so I had to park at Iron Horse park and walk around until I found an entrance to it. Note: If you're coming from that side, the ramp to the bridge is closer to the main street. I think my favorite part of the bridge was the rattlesnake tail at the end. It's fun to be able to say I've been inside a snake.

    This is what happens when true creativity, art and community improvement come together! The…read moreRattlesnake Bridge is a unique, functional piece of art that is as pleasing to look at as it is to use! There's a lot of road construction at his silver fanged head so we started at the back end and walked through, it's pretty cool to be in the belly of a snake!! It's not the best neighborhood area and there are folks that have decided to call the area home so be aware of your surroundings just like anywhere else nowadays! Perhaps the Tucson Art Academy could take an interest and clean it up, after all, it is an artists creation!

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    Inside "snake"
    Inside "snake"
    The rattle at one end
    The rattle at one end
    Inside bridge

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    Inside bridge

    San Xavier Del Bac Mission - churches - Updated July 2026

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